Objectives: To study the changes of sexual gland 5 alpha-reductase type II activity in pubertal and adult rats with diabetes.
Methods: We selected 40 and 90 days old male Wistar rats as pubertal and adult animal model respectively, 30 rats in each group. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (C), diabetic group (D) and diabetes with insulin replacement group (ID). The activity of 5 alpha-reductase type II was measured with thin layer chromatography in the epididymis, prostate and testis.
Results: 1. In all sexual glands of pubertal rats, the activity of 5 alpha-reductase type II in D group is significantly lower than that in C and ID groups. 2. In all sexual glands of adult rats. there is no difference in the activity of 5 alpha-reductase type II among these groups.
Conclusions: The activity of 5 alpha-reductase type II is likely to be influenced by metabolic environment, hormonal levels and local specific factors in pubertal rats, but it is relatively stable in adult rats.